Macau - You made me fall in love with you #20ThingsILoveAboutMacao #ExperienceMacao

Macau having a rich Portuguese history, it’s not surprising that some of the top things to do in Macau involve exploring its World Heritage gems. The Historic Centre of Macau is a collection of 25 historical buildings, gardens and squares that exhibits unique Chinese and Portuguese styles. The collection is locally referred as Macau World Heritage.

In order to visit the Macau World Heritage sites, spread all across the city, you need to plan well ahead and have some time on your hand along with some comfy shoes!

#2 SKYWALK at Macau Tower

If Bungee Jumping is not your thing, then you can surely try the SKYWALK at Macau Tower which is kids-friendly too. Macau Tower is a 338 meters tall iconic landmark of Macau where you can take a stroll around the outer (1.8 meters wide) perimeter that encircles the tower without any handrail but securely tied to a harness. Exciting right?

#3 Let's go to the beach!

Macau only has two beaches Cheoc Van Beach and the renowned black beach of Hac Sa, not too far from each other in Coloane. Hac Sa beach attracts more tourist due to its black sand which gets its dark colors from the minerals in the water. Whereas Cheoc Van beach is a half-moon shaped golden sand beach with a lot of tree shades and lifeguards on duty during busy seasons.

I would plan my entire day around these beaches where I can swim, relax and sunbath or do water sports and gab a quick lunch at Fernando’s. You will find public toilets and changing rooms on the beaches which are such a life savior sometimes!

#4 Marvel at KUN IAM Statue

While walking towards the Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre, you will be greeted by a 20 meters high golden statue of a goddess named Kun Iam, embodying love, compassion and mercy. You can instantly feel a sense of calm and peace when around and will love hanging around the area.

#5 Go back in time at the Taipa Village

Taipa Village is a place where you can get a taste of the original authentic Macau through its buildings, shops, food and everything in between. While walking in the alleyways of the old Taipa Village, you will feel like you have been transported back in a time. I have eating Taipa's famous Duck rice along with some Portuguese beer on my food bucket list!

While you are at it, don't forget to check out the Taipa Houses Museum, a placid row of five distinctive peppermint green houses, very popular for wedding photo shoots.

Another reason to visit Taipa Village is to enjoy the Feast of Pak Tai, which celebrates the birthday of Taoist water god named Pak Tai.

#6 Visit Guia Fortress & Lighthouse

A hike up to the Guia Fortress on the Guia Hill is a must if you want to escape the city bustle and have a few moments to yourself. The 17th century colonial military fortress is part of a complex comprising a chapel and a lighthouse (the first western styled lighthouse to be built on the China coast) and is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Macau.

There are some nature and hiking trails around the Guia Hill where locals like to go for a hike or walk to escape from the busy streets below. You will be rewarded with some stunning views of the city center from uphill. I would definitely put Guia Fortress on my itinerary.

#7 Watch Portuguese Folk Dance

A colony under Portuguese rule until 1999, Macau has a lot of cultural influence of Portugal, which is often symbolized by the traditional Portuguese folk dances that are performed by locals all dressed up in Portuguese clothes on streets during special occasions and promotional events.

My trip to Macau would be incomplete without watching a Portuguese folk dance performance.

#8 Witness the Macau Lotus Festival

I would choose June to visit Macau because every June, Macau celebrates its annual Lotus festival showcasing the beautiful perennial aquatic plants found all around in China. The festival highlights a particular lotus flower species that can be admired at the Taipa Houses Museum and in the Lou Lim Ieoc Garden among other places.

To see the entire city decked up in potted lotus flowers would be such a wonderful sight to see!

#9 Get mesmerized at the House of the Dancing Waters

Its truly exciting to watch a show at the House of Dancing Waters where a captivating tale of love is told through mesmerizing water and light effects with exceptional acrobatics set on a grandeur scale.

#10 Enjoy the International Fireworks Competition

Watch the Macau night sky lit up by numerous fireworks during its International Fireworks Competition weekends making a spectacular display that's hard to forget!

I would love to pick a spot and watch the displays from the promenade at Nam Van Lake or along Ave. de Republic on Sai Van Lake. The awesome firework displays add a jolly atmosphere to the holidays and festivities, making it a hard-to-resist event of the year!

#11 Take a sip at the Tea Culture House

Tea lovers cannot miss a visit to Macau's Tea Culture House which is a museum and a culture center. The building is a fusion of Chinese and Portuguese style, dedicated to showcase the role of tea in Macau's cultural development. Here you get an opportunity to learn the rich art of Chinese tea ceremony called Jing Cha in Chinese, meaning 'to respectfully offer tea'. Afterwards you can do a tea tasting which is available only in the weekends.

#12 Dive in some Portuguese Pastries in Macau

Macau's street food game is on point. No matter the cuisine or the budget, the city has got you covered! However, you have got to try some Portuguese pastries with your tea or coffee before you leave the city.

My foodie self wants to indulge in some authentic Portuguese egg tarts and Pastel De Chaves! Pastel De Chaves literally means Chaves's Pastry and is made with a puff pastry shell filled with a mixture of minced meat, bread, and onions. It's on the savory side.

#13 Watch the Wushu and Dragon and Lion Dance Parade

The parade starts at the Senado Square, covering various prominent landmarks of Macao, including the Ruins of St. Paul’s and the Albergue SCM before ending at the Tap Seac Square. You get to see a lot of song and dance performances wearing Wushu themed costumes along with the Lion and Dragon dances.

The parade is a part of the Wushu Masters Challenge which is four-day event showcasing the three main categories of Wushu (Chinese form of martial arts), namely Dragon and Lion Dance, Taolu and Sanda. This parade is just hard to miss!

#14 Make Memories at the Highest Ferries Wheel - Golden Reel

What will be your first thoughts if you are let into Steampunk-themed cabins in the world's highest figure-8 Ferris wheel at Macau's Studio City? Of-course admire the breathtaking views of the city 130 meters high up in the air. That's what I will do.

Golden Reel is one of the iconic landmarks of Macau that you need to add to your bucket list!

#15 Watch a Musical

In recent years, Macau has become well known for its Musical Theaters – combining music, songs, spoken dialogue and dance. In fact, many local theatrical productions have tried to capture the distinctive and unique qualities of the region through their musicals. Watching one would be so much fun and enriching!

#16 Enjoy Macau International Dragon Boat Races

Every year, Macau organizes the International Dragon Boat Races in the month of June and invites teams from other countries to strengthen the relationship between the local and non-local teams. Macau's beautiful Nam Van lake is the chosen venue for the race and it attracts a lot of crowd to cheer on their favorite teams. So, if you want to get a good view, grab a place at the grandstand close to the Macau Tower.

#17 Fancy a Romantic Gondola Ride?

How many of you have a dream of taking a Gondola ride? Apart from Venice, you can make your dream come true at the Venetian Macau hotel and hop on to a Gondola with your loved ones with a Gondolier singing melodious songs throughout the ride. Someone truly said, its a fairy tail in the real world and I want to be a part of it.

#18 Take Audio Guide Tours

The Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) at Senado Square provides an audio guide service covering each of the 25 World Heritage attractions situated around the Historic Centre of Macau apart from handing out free maps, brochures and tourists information.

I love audio guide tours, where you can visit the location and hear about its history, culture, heritage and all other fun facts at the click of a button.

With a deposit of MOP 200, you can get your audio guide kit and you will get your deposit back once you return the kit.

#19 Watching Incredible Sunsets

Watching sunset over the horizon is one of the great moments of a day. It radiates a warm fuzzy feeling and I personally a fan of sunsets. So, I make sure to pause and watch sunsets, which ever city I am in.

And Macau have got some great places to enjoy those beautiful Macau sunsets. I would want to go on the Long Chao Kok Coastal trail which starts in the Hac Sa beach, to reach the pagoda leading to the sea, where I can sit and enjoy a beautiful sunset away from the usual tourist paths. One look at it and you will see that Macau is much more than Asia’s gaming Mecca.

#20 No Visa Worries

Citizens of India don't need tourist visa for a stay up to 30 days in Macau. With no visa worries, I can now plan my trip to Macau easily!

I have only highlighted a few things that I love about the city of Macau, but it has a lot more to offer. Don't take my words for it, visit Macau and experience all of it!